The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has continued to demonstrate its commitment to enhancing internal security with a series of successful operations, leading to the rescue of kidnapped victims, arrests of notorious criminals, and recoveries of illegal firearms.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, these actions underscore the NPF’s proactive efforts to combat crime and ensure the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.
On April 19, 2025, at approximately 9:35 PM, operatives from the Faskari Division of the Katsina State Police Command successfully foiled a kidnapping attempt along the Funtua-Gusau highway. Engaging the bandits in a fierce gun battle, the operatives forced the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds. The swift response resulted in the rescue of ten victims, including two drivers and eight passengers, who were unharmed and later reunited with their families.
In another operation, on April 18, 2025, at around 11:00 AM, operatives from the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Taraba State, in collaboration with local vigilantes, apprehended 40-year-old Umar Ahmad at a roadblock in Jalingo. Ahmad, a notorious criminal, had been on the police wanted list for several months.
Following his arrest, he led the operatives to Mayo Faran Village in Mayo Belwa LGA, a border town between Taraba and Adamawa states. A thorough search of the area led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, and thirty-nine rounds of live ammunition. Additionally, one of the rifles was identified as having been stolen from the Taraba State Police Command during a 2023 ambush, which led to the death of ASP Aminu Nuhu.
Further demonstrating their effectiveness, on April 17, 2025, at approximately 1:30 PM, officers from the Fegge Divisional Headquarters in Anambra State, while on patrol along Port Harcourt Road in Upper Iweka, Onitsha, intercepted a suspicious shuttle bus. After a detailed search, five pump-action guns, eight live cartridges, and two handcuffs were found hidden in a bag of rice. The bus is now under forensic examination, and efforts to locate the culprits are ongoing.
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Later that same day, at 1:27 PM, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad/Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Anambra State Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested 25-year-old Israel Akachukwu at his residence on Ezeigwe Street, Nkpor, Idemili North LGA.
A search of his apartment led to the recovery of two pump-action guns, two live cartridges, a cutlass, a yellow axe, and a dagger. Akachukwu, a confessed member of the Vikings Confraternity, is cooperating with the police to help identify and apprehend other gang members.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commended the officers involved for their professionalism and prompt action, which led to these significant successes. The IGP reiterated the Force’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of citizens, emphasizing that these recent operations highlight the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the dedication of NPF officers in the fight against crime.
The NPF continues to urge the public to cooperate with law enforcement by providing timely information that can help prevent crime and ensure public safety.
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